Find food gifts, wine and vintage cookware at Tracy Dempsey Originals Leave a comment
Given this year’s supply chain issues, smart shoppers started making their lists and checking them twice long before Halloween. I’ve never been that organized, and as a holiday purist, I can’t fully embrace Christmas until the leftover Thanksgiving turkey and fixings are gone and forgotten.
If, like me, you take your holidays one at a time, you’re probably feeling a little pressed to find some great eleventh-hour gifts. Fear not, I’ve got just the place for you.
Tracy Dempsey Originals/ODV Wines is a charming Tempe shop that focuses on what Dempsey calls “sweet and savory confections” and wines. It offers a little bit of everything for foodies and most of the products are local.
Shop for chef-approved holiday gifts
The penchant for sweets, the local slant and the abiding interest in wine aren’t surprising if you know Tracy Dempsey, a talented pastry chef who made a name for herself at Cowboy Ciao in its heyday.
Her chocolate pots de creme was a revelation, and her outlandish blueberry bread pudding with bacon-pecan brittle and maple ice cream was a divisive breakfast-inspired creation that either charmed or outraged customers.
She was one of the first female pastry chefs to be recognized by name in this town. So, when you shop at her store, you’re not buying just any old cake or cookie or candy. You’re buying a Tracy Dempsey Original.
Near the front of the store, you’ll find DerekSips coffee from a small batch, local roastery selling 12-ounce bags of whole beans from Brazil, Guatemala, Uganda and Ethiopia.
Tucked in a vintage cabinet nearby — a selection of local honey harvested in Laveen, Buckeye, Mesa and South Mountain.
On another table, find local restaurant industry veteran Steve Doud’s Wonder Mustard, offered in three flavors, as well as sea salt, chile salt and chile powder from Desert Provisions.
There, too, are Dempsey’s famous brittles, honeycomb candy, marshmallow fun packs, s’mores kits and hot cocoa bombs, as well as artisanal chocolates from local chocolate makers. All make perfect stocking stuffers.
Mixed among the tables and cupboards filled with foodstuffs are vintage baking tins, tea towels, locally made cherrywood spatulas, wine gadgets, cocktail books and cooking-oriented Christmas ornaments.
You can also opt for a gift basket, either one you put together yourself or one the shop has already prepared, which includes a cocktail starter kit and a curated collection of sipping vermouths.
Find the perfect cake, wine or cheese while you’re there
A refrigerated case near the back of the store holds an ever-changing selection of bar cookies, slices of cake, mini pies and tarts — good for eating on the spot or taking home for dinner. With a little notice, you may order whole cakes as well in flavors such as chocolate raspberry truffle, lemon and pistachio and pink Champagne.
The left side of the case holds American-made artisanal cheeses you won’t find at A.J.’s or Whole Foods. Dempsey and her husband Chuck seek them out from around the country, featuring mostly local cheeses such as Crow’s Dairy in the summer months when shipping is problematic and searching well beyond Arizona’s borders when the weather cools.
And, did I mention there’s a tiny freezer stocked with Dempsey’s house-made ice creams and frozen cookies to go?
Fully half of the shop is dedicated to wine, and the name ODV is the Dempseys’ cheeky nod to “eau de vie,” which means “water of life” in French. The two have been obsessed with finding good wine since they were newlyweds, and they seek out limited production wines from producers around the world, including natural wines, sparkling wines, dessert-friendly rosés and exceptional wines from Arizona. And they try to source from multi-generational family wineries and wineries that are woman-owned.
Dempsey says she hesitates to use the term “boutique,” because it so often implies expensive. Many of the wines here are rare — meaning you won’t find them at BevMo or Total Wine — but affordable, typically ranging in price from $10 to $100.
Not your usual gift-of-the-month club
Want to splurge on something geeky but memorable? Consider a gift subscription to the wine club, which costs $60 every other month. For that price, you get three bottles for that month — Dempsey describes the selection as “one red, one not red and something else” — along with a little treat such as red wine chocolate sauce. There’s also a cheese club, priced at $50 every other month, which features three to five cheeses, tasting notes and some go-withs like chutney, nuts, dried fruits or a Noble country boule. Then again, you could go all out and join both clubs as the cheese and wine selections are designed to be paired. Brilliant!
The deadline for pre-ordering many of the holiday treats, which include gingerbread cookie decorating kits, cheese and salumi platters and additional cakes and pies, is December 15. If you want Stollen, however, you have until Dec. 17 to order and items are available in-store on a first-come basis throughout the month.
Details: 1325 W. University Drive, Tempe. 602-376-9021, tracydempseyoriginals.com, odvwines.com.
